Addis Ababa, November 27, 2015 (SSNA) — The National Liberation Council (NLC) of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) has elected its first Secretary General since the ruling SPLM party divided itself into groups after fighting broke out in Juba in mid-December of 2013.
The SPLM-IO is the political wing of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO).
The highly contested election was conducted in the rebel headquarters, Pagak. Dr. Dhieu Mathok Diing Wol, who served as the Chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the SPLM-IO, was overwhelmingly elected as the new Secretary General of the SPLM-IO.
“SPLM/SPLA (IO) leadership wants to announce to its members, supporters and sympathizers worldwide that the National Liberation Council (NLC) of the Movement has elected its Secretary General. Comrade Dr. Dhieu Mathok Diing Wol is now the newly elected Secretary General of the Movement,” James Gatdet Dak announced in a statement extended to the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA).
Gatdet praises the election process and said the election was done in a democratic manner, adding that new members were also elected to the SPLM’s Political Bureau and National Liberation Council of the armed opposition.
“The election was conducted in a democratic atmosphere during which other officials of the NLC competed in the exercise. Earlier, members to the NLC and Political Bureau (PB) were selected,” he disclosed.
The rebel leadership reaffirms its commitment to peace and welcomes the launch of work of Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) led by Former Botswana’s President, Festus Mogae.
Gatdet further revealed a team of 500 cadres of the SPLM/A-IO was ready to travel to Juba and nine states of the violence-ravaged nation, warning the travel of the SPLM/A-IO’s advance team to Juba "depends on resolution of political violations to the Peace Agreement by President Salva Kiir’s government.”
The rebel Spokesperson proclaims that the armed opposition didn’t attend Friday JMEC’s conference because the “venue and timing were not agreed by the parties.”
Early this week, the Troika urged all parties to the conflict to participate in the meeting.